One fateful day in 2008, the “Big 5” major armies declared war on the Small/Medium Community. In this edition of Picture Perfect, we examine the infamous Order 67, one of the early large-scale conflicts in Club Penguin Army history.
Designed by Master DS
ANTA and the United Nations
At the conclusion of the Tundra Wars and in the midst of the Army of Club Penguin’s ongoing war against the Nachos, five armies stood at the peak of the community. Alongside the ACP and Nachos, the Rebel Penguin Federation, Ice Warriors, and Underground Mafias Army comprised the community’s early Mount Olympus. The community at this time waged near-constant war, with each of these five being involved in several invasions. The community’s titans scrambled for control of servers, whole regions (as Club Penguin split up its servers into these), and infamy within its ranks. In this context, Oagalthorp, the ACP founder and leader, devised a concept that would help unify and solidify this power into one mobilizing force: the Army and Nation Treaty Alliance.
Initially, ANTA sought to create a solution to the ongoing wars between these major titans. However, as more small/medium armies cropped up over the year, the members of this alliance identified a problem. These armies were not strong enough on their own to meaningfully impact conflicts. On April 11, 2008, the Club Penguin United Nations opened its doors in response. Organized by Mr Deedledoo, the concept showed similarities to ANTA, with the exception that it attracted small/medium armies. While the ACP were initially a member of the CPUN, they would leave the alliance, likely due to the looming plans ANTA had. Despite some initial setbacks, the alliance would remain steady. Participating armies prior to the announcement were the Red Raiders, Club Penguin Rangers, Royal Penguin Arsenal, the Water Warriors, Bounty Hunters, Sleet Empire, Imperial Penguin Army, and United Troopers.
Club Penguin United Nations recruiting session in 2008
EXECUTE ORDER 67
On July 8, 2008, ANTA executed Order 67. In a now infamous announcement, Fort57 made the call for the “Big 5” of ANTA to declare war. The stated goal of the war was to force all small/medium armies to surrender. While the post would declare war on every small/medium with the goal of eliminating the “bad ones,” small indications that this event was being done to grow the small/medium community surfaced. Not only is the CPUN listed by name, but ANTA also organized an emergency meeting for CPUN to organize their war plans. While the initial effort made the ANTA look like an effort to eliminate all small/mediums, history proved otherwise.
Order 67 executed
As the days passed and CPUN organized into a massive 35-army alliance, plans to have a battle in every room on the war server emerged. The CPUN and League of Club Penguin Armies drafted Operation: Revolution. All signs pointed to all-out war between the two alliances. Tensions built in CPUN, awaiting an invasion. Mr Deedledoo himself raised concerns about the necessity of combat. However, as soon as it started, Order 67 concluded with a message from Nachos leader Shadow2446.
ANTA calls off Order 67
The war was over. The CPUN expressed confusion, especially as it questioned the true intentions of ANTA. The CPUN itself took on the mantle of continuing to protect small/medium armies in the midst of ANTA’s concerns. While the war never came about, and the battle concluded with diplomacy, this set into motion a “big brother” and “little brother” relationship between the CPUN and ANTA. Moreover, the CPUN continued its presence as an alliance for years afterward, arguably setting the small/medium community up for more success in the future. ANTA, on the other hand, did not have this same success. The alliance shattered over the ACP’s invasion of Mammoth, a neutral server, leading to the opening stages of World War IV.
AN ECHOED LEGACY
Order 67 remains in the hearts and minds of the community as an example of the influence major armies can have over the small/medium community. It is this delicate balance that inspired Pirates leader Waterkid100 to do the exact opposite of its initial run. The Pirates would execute their own Order 67 in October 2012, this time for the destruction of the Small/Medium Army Alliance. However, the Pirates dropped the effort soon after to focus on the Black Alliance offensive versus the ACP. Meanwhile, the Club Penguin United Nations hosted many prolific armies, including Chaos, Smart Penguins, Global Defenders, and Army Republic, the last of which would become major at several points in its lifespan. Despite no battles taking place, ANTA and CPUN set the precedent for major and S/M relationships. The community is forever impacted by Order 67.
Order 67 stands as the preeminent example of what major armies can do. For some, Order 67 was a blueprint for conquest. For others, it remains a foundational moment for the small/medium community. What lessons can we learn from how it ended? How else has Order 67 impacted our legacy today?
Rosaferri
Reporter